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What is an Emergency?
An EMERGENCY is the need for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to give further medical attention and/or transport an athlete to the hospital. It is IMPORTANT in these situations that coordination between the athletic trainer, coaches, administrators and student responders be effective. This guide is intended to delineate roles and outline the protocol to be followed should an emergency occur.
Emergency Action PlanWe can't always prevent an emergency from occurring. This is why we have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place that is reviewed and practiced to ensure everyone is on the same page should an emergency happen. Here is the EAP for Westside High School. It is VERY important if an emergency occurs that ONLY personnel trained in the emergency action plan. This helps reduce confusion and helps the injured athlete receive the most efficient care necessary.
When an Athlete REQUIRES Emergency Transportation:
Emergency Transportation of a seriously injured individual will be done by activating Emergency Medical Services (EMS)/ambulance. With non-life-threatening injuries/illnesses the parent/guardian of the athlete will be notified of the situation and asked to provide transportation for the injured athletes. A EMT or Paramedic of the Emergency Personnel may provide transportation if the parent/guardian are NOTavailable. If MORE than one Westside coach is at an event when a student needs to be transported to the Emergency Room and the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) are NOT in attendance, it is required that one Westside coach rides with the student to the emergency room. Students and Students Aids may NOT transport athletes.
Life-Threatening Situations:
- An athlete is NOT Breathing
- An athlete has a Loss of Consciousness
- An athlete is suspected with Neck or Back Injury
- An athlete has an Open Fracture
- An athlete is experiencing Severe Heat Related Illness
- An athlete is experiencing Extreme Blood Loss due to an Injury
- An athlete that is suffering with Head Injury
- An athlete is experiencing Asthma Attack
- An Athlete is experiencing Allergic Reaction
Emergency Transportation Unit
§ Westside Athletic Department has a private ambulance (St. Vincent's Ambulance) service contracted for every home game for JV/Varsity Football events. In case of transport, St. Vincent's will most likely transport visiting athletes and coaches to Orange Park Medical because its closest hospital to our school. If the athlete's injuries are severe enough, they will be transported to UF Health Shands LEVEL-ONE trauma center.
§ Ambulance Service (Home Team): A member of the Emergency Personnel may provide transportation if the parent/guardian are NOTavailable. If MORE than one Westside coach is at an event when a student needs to be transported to the Emergency Room and the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) are NOT in attendance, it is required that one Westside coach or Westside administrators/staff member rides with the student to the emergency room. Students and Students Aids may NOT transport athletes.
§ Ambulance Service (Visiting Team): In case of an emergency and/or transport at any HOME event that ISN'T football at Westside, the Athletic Trainer or Coach will call 911 and Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department will respond in response of an emergency. Visiting spectators will be transported by Ambulance Service, if he/she is the student athletes parent or legal gaurdian. In case that parent or legal gaurdian is NOTpresent, coach is responsible for sending a coach, assistant coach, or administrator/staff member with the athlete to the hospital due to the liability of the athlete.
HOSPITALSPediatric Centers
Orange Park Medical Hospital 2001 Kingsley Ave, Orange Park, FL 3207. 904-639-8500Wolfsons Center Hospital 800 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207. 904-202-8000
Nemours Children's Hospital 807 Childrens Way, Jacksonville, FL 32207. 904-697-3600Trauma Center
UF Health Hospital 655 West 8th Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32209. 904-244-0411Other Hospitals
Baptist Medical Center 800 Prudential Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207. 904-202-2000